Tension roll



April 13, 1937. H D NALD 2,077,312

TENSION ROLL Filed Feb. 13, 1955 J1 1220010301" f/oward l'fiamzld fllioz'ngy um um Patented Apr. 13, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to friction rolls for woolen, worsted and cotton spinning machines, and represents in part a development of and improvement in friction rolls of the type disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 656,751. In these rolls I employ fibre to replace the leather, cork, rubber or metal from which such rolls heretofore have been made and which were either subject to injury to themselves from oil,

grooving and wear, thus requiring frequent replacement, or the rolls would injure the yarn and threads which they guided through the spinning machines.

These friction rolls are intended to be used with a cooperating steel bottom roll which is usually fluted and which acts as a driving roll to rotate the friction roll solely by means of the friction contact and' consequent traction between the two rolls. It is my problem to produce this traction between the rolls and at the same time hold the roving evenly and tightly as it traverses the rolls, while avoiding the shortcomings and objectionable features of the prior art.

It will be understood that the lower metal roll extends the full length of the spinning machine and is simultaneously rotated and reciprocated therein during the operation of the machine.

The closely compacted thin fibre discs from which my friction roll is made furnish a plurality of fine friction points each disc presenting at each edge thereof a distinct and persistent friction point even after the assembled roll has been buffed and smoothed. It will be understood that as a result of the reciprocation of the steel bottom roll in the frame, a diagonal running position is given to the roving which carries it between the rolls more or less transversely of the discs so that it is contacted by the friction edges of the discs which provide the tension and guiding action required to guide the roving evenly and smoothly through the rolls. The points are so fine that they do not catch the yarn or interfere with its free passage but they are sufficient to tension the yarn and also furnish the required traction with the steel bottom roll.

In my present invention, in order that the yarns may at all times bein contact with the friction edges of the discs and to increase and insure continued tension on the yarns as they are carried through the rolls, I dispose my fibre or other discs obliquely or at any other than a right angle to the axis of the roll as will hereinafter more fully be described. This angular disposition of the disc edges also makes for better traction. Such disposition of the discs entirely avoids any likelihood of grooving of the fibre or of the yarns becoming caught between discs or disc edges; and rolls constructed according to my invention are capable of continuous satisfactory use for years, which when compared with the relatively short life of usefulness of the present rolls of leather or cork, represents a noteworthy saving in time and labor.

In the accompanying drawing I illustrate and in the accompanying specification describe a 10 form of my invention which has proven highly successful in practical use. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my friction roll in operative position over a steel drive roll.

Fig. 2 Ba corresponding end view.. '1

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view of one of the end assembling collars.

Fig. 5 is a section through the same.

Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively face and side 20 viewsof one of my discs.

Fig.8 is an enlarged section showing the relative positions of the vertical and inclineddiscs to the shaft, and

Fig. 9 is a view of a modified type of collar. 25

My friction roll comprises a shaft l of metal, preferably aluminum, aluminum alley or other light weight metal so as to compensate for whatever increased weight results from the use of fibre over cork, leather or rubber. 30

The shaft l is reduced at l -to provide spaced shoulders providing inner end bearings for my fibre friction units 2, Each unit is composed of a plurality of thin concentric'discs D of fibre,

suitably apertured so as to fit onto the shaft l. 35 7 These discs D, of selected thinness; in sufficient number to produce a unit 2 of desired length, are held in position on the shaft by collarsC, the inner collars bearing against the shoulders I The collars C may be of any suitable material 40 and if desired may be thicker discs of fibre, as shown. The units 2 consisting of collars C and discs D are forced over the shaft 1 until they fit tightly against the shaft shoulder l Obviously, the unit may be assembled on the shaft, but in 45 practice it is more convenient to replace the entire unit.

The discs D are preferably very thin and may be held at any desired angle to the shaft by the collars C. The collars may be of either the type 50 shown in Figs. 4 and 5, or of the type shownin Fig. 9. The collar of Figs. 4 and 5 has a flat outer face 0 and if desired a beveled inner face C against which the discs D are tightly compressed. V 55 In order to present the friction edge D of the discs continuously diagonally to the roving there may be used either the bevel faced type of collar C of Figs. 4 and 5, or the straight faced 5 type with the aperture angularly disposed relative to the axis of the shaft or to the longitudinal axis of the collar itself C of Fig. 9. If the bevel faced type C is used the inner and outer collars have their surfaces disposed so that the higher portion of one opposes the lower portion of the other and so that the discs which are i evenly held under compression between the same represent a continuous solid smooth friction surface to the roving.

In order to secure diversity of angularity ofdisposition of the discs, a dividing member C may be inserted Within the body of the unit 2 (see Fig. 1) the same having both faces similarly beveled so as to be adapted to be mounted on the shaft l oppositely to the end collars C whereby to hold the discs D in tight even assembly. When this member C is used the end members may be mounted with their thicker and thinner portions facing the corresponding portion of the opposing collar C, and the thicker portion of the member C will fill the resulting space between the discs so as to produce an evenly surfaced tightly assembled disc unit. The modified form of collar C of Fig. 9 has two straight sides but the aperture A thereof is 'disposed angularly as at A to its own longitudinal axis and holds the discs on the shaft in approximately the same angle to the shaft as they are held by the beveled faces C of the collar C.

Screws or other members S pass throughout all collars C and discs D to present the same as a single removable unit 2 frictionally held on the shaft l.

The disc units 2 as aforesaid are held on the shaft l solely by friction; By inclining the discs angularly to the axis of the shaft the diameters of the discs effective to engage the shaft are shortened and an interwedging engagement of the discs and shafts results and ensures against rotation of the discs on the shaft during rotation of the shaft or axial movement of the unit 2 on the shaft.

The extreme ends of the shaft l are held in suitable bearings in the machine frame. The discs D are so closely compacted as to present when buffed an apparently continuous surface, but the edges of each diagonally or otherwise angularly disposed disc provide friction points D which are not easily destroyed at any par- 55 ticular place and some of which apparently are never smoothed out even by long periods of use. If more or less friction is desired, this may be regulated by varying the thickness of the fibre discs, so that a greater or lesser number of discs 6 will be used to obtain a unit of the desired length according to the amount of friction required.

The discs being secured in place, the shaft is placed in a turning lathe and the units are smoothed to the desired diameter. 65 The roll when finished presents a smooth surface in circumference, but at each point Where the discs come together there is a point of friction D which tends to hold the yarn in proper position as it passes diagonally between the two rolls as the steel roll rotates and reciproca'tes. Depending on the number of discs present, the unit is wear resistant and permits of spinning of a variety of sizes of yarns without a change of rolls.

My friction roll is held against the steel'roll 6 by the weighted lever I. While the reciprocatory motion of the bottom roll 6 tends to cause the roving to pass diagonally even over discs disposed at right angles to the shaft, this is intensified and made positive by use of the inclined discs and a certainty of suitable tension on the roving and traction between the rolls results.

While particularly adapted for use in modern wool spinning machines of recent design, it will be apparent that my friction roll can readily be adapted to use in any cotton, worsted or woolen spinning machine provided with the steel roll 6, and may be used as either a top roll positioned over a bottom steel roll, or a back roll positioned in the rear of the steel roll.

Various modifications in the form and construction of my roll may obviously be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention if within the limits of the appended claims.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A tension roll for a spinning machine comprising a plurality of relatively thin fiat, closely compacted laminae of unbroken, non-yielding circumference rigidly assembled in face to face contact, the faces of the laminae being disposed in planes which intersect the axis of the tension roll at an angle other than a right angle and means for maintaining the laminae under sufficient axial compression to present the same to the passing roving as a substantially solid, smooth friction surface, the edges of said laminae furnishing friction to and tensioning the roving as it traverses said roll.

2. A tension roll for a spinning machine comprising a plurality of relatively thin fiat, closely compacted laminae of unbroken, non-yielding circumference rigidly assembled in face to face contact, the faces of the laminae being disposed in planes which intersect the axis of the tension roll at an oblique angle and means for maintaining the laminae under sufficient axial compression to present the same to the passing roving as a substantially solid, smooth friction surface, the edges of said laminae furnishing friction to and tensioningthe roving as it traverses said roll.

3. A tension roll for a spinning machine comprising a shaft, a plurality of relatively thin fiat, closely compacted laminae of unbroken, nonyielding circumference rigidly assembled on said shaft in face to face contact the faces of the laminae being disposed in planes which intersect the axis of the tension roll at an angle other than a right angle and collars spaced on said shaft and adapted to maintain said laminae under suflicient axial compression to present the laminae to the passing roving as a substantially solid, smooth friction surface, the edges of said laminae furnishing friction to and tensioning the roving as it traverses said roll.

4. A tension roll for a spinning machine comprising a shaft, a plurality of relatively thin fiat, closely compacted laminae of unbroken, nonyielding circumference rigidly assembled on said shaft in face to face contact the faces of the laminae being disposed in planes which intersect the axis of the tension roll at an oblique angle and collars spaced on said shaft and adapted to maintain said laminae under sufficient axial compression to present the laminae to the passing roving as a substantially solid, smooth friction surface, the edges of said laminae furnishing friction to and tensioning the roving as it traverses said roll.

5. A tension roll for a spinning machine comprising a shaft, a plurality of relatively thin, fiat closely compacted laminae of unbroken, nonyielding circumference rigidly assembled on said shaft in face to face contact the faces of the laminae being disposed in planes which intersect the axis of the tension roll at an oblique angle and collars spaced on said shaft, each collar having a beveled surface oppositely disposed to the beveled surface of the other collar and adapted to maintain said laminae under sufficient axial compression to present the laminae to the passing roving as a substantially solid, smooth friction surface, the edges of said laminae furnishing friction to and tensionin-g the roving as it traverses said roll.

6. A tension roll for a spinning machine comprising a shaft, a plurality of relatively thin, closely compacted laminae of unbroken, nonyielding circumference rigidly assembled on said shaft in face to face contact and collars spaced on said shaft, and means for maintaining said laminae at a plurality of angles other than right angles tothe axis of the shaft including beveled faces on the collars and a member having two similarly beveled faces mounted on said shaft midway of said laminae, the thicker portion of said beveled member being disposed oppositely to the thinner portions of the beveled faces of the collars and whereby the laminae are presented to the passing roving as a substantially solid,

smooth friction surface, the edges of said laminae furnishing friction to and tensioning the roving as it traverses said roll.

7. A tension roll for a spinning machine comprising a shaft, a plurality of relatively thin,

closely compacted laminae of unbroken, nonyielding circumference rigidly assembled on said shaft in face to face contact and collars spaced on said shaft, said collars having shaft receiving apertures disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the collars, whereby said laminae confined by said collars are disposed at an incline to the axis of said shaft, and whereby the same are presented to the passing roving as a substantially solid, smooth friction surface, the edges of said laminae furnishing friction to and tensioning the roving as it traverses said roll.

8. A tension roll for a spinning machine comprising a shaft, a plurality of relatively thin fiat, closely compacted laminae of unbroken, nonyielding circumference rigidly assembled on said shaft in face to face contact and wedge shaped collars spaced on said shaft and adapted so to incline said discs relative to said shaft as to effect a wedging interengagement thereof to create a driving relation between the shaft and discs and to prevent axial displacement of the discs on the shaft.

9. A pair of drawing rolls for a spinning machine, consisting of a corrugated metal driving roll and a tension roll driven thereby, said driven roll including a plurality of relatively thin flat, closely compacted, fibre laminae of unbroken, non-yielding circumference rigidly assembled in face to face contact, the faces of the laminae being disposed in planes which intersect the axis of the tension roll at an oblique angle and means for maintaining the laminae under sufficient axial compression to present the laminae as a substantially solid, smooth friction surface to the roving, the edges of the laminae furnishing traction with the corrugations of said driving roll and furnishing friction to the roving as it traverses said rolls.

10. A tension roll for a spinning machine comprising a shaft and a plurality of relatively thin fiat, closely compacted, fibre laminae of unbroken, non-yielding circumference rigidly assembled on said shaft in face to face contact, the faces of the laminae being disposed in planes which intersect the axis of the tension roll at an oblique angle and means for maintaining the laminae under suflicient axial compression to present the laminae as a substantially solid, smooth friction surface to the roving, the edges of the laminae furnishing friction to the roving as it traverses said roll.

HOWARD F. DONALD. 

